TAINTED INNOCENCE

Chapter 19

Batangas, tahimik ang paligid habang hinihimas ng hangin ang mga kurtina ng terrace. Si Bella ay nakaupo sa lounge chair, hawak ang kape, pinapanood si Dominic habang galit na naglalakad pabalik-balik sa balcony, may kausap sa phone.

“Put that deal on hold. No—don’t release any statement until I say so.”

Sinungit niya ang tono, puno ng authority, pero halatang inis na inis.

Pagkababa ng tawag, dumiretso siya kay Bella.

“May problema?”

Huminga siya nang malalim. “Your dad just gave a press conference.”

Bella straightened. “Press con? About what?”

“Southbay project. He’s blaming my family for manipulating the bidding. Accused my dad of fraud and backdoor negotiations.”

“Wait, what? Akala ko tahimik na silang dalawa. Wala naman akong naririnig kina Mama about that.”

“Well, not anymore.” Dominic's jaw clenched. “And of course, my father didn’t stay quiet.”

Bella stood up slowly. “What did your dad say?”

“He gave his own interview an hour later. Tinawag niyang desperate move ng Santiagos ‘yung mga accusation. Sinabi pa niyang ‘the Santiagos are used to bribing and crying to get what they want.’”

Bella felt her knees weaken.

“Grabe.”

“That’s not all.” Dominic turned to her. “The board of Southbay released an official notice. They’re freezing the project indefinitely. Investors are pulling out. Stocks of both companies? Nag-plunge ngayong umaga.”

“No, no, no...” Bella murmured, placing a hand on her chest. “Hindi dapat ganito...”

“Tingin nila,” Dominic said, voice hardening, “na ang cause ng gulo is decades of rivalry. Valencia versus Santiago. But now it’s public. Mainit. At ang problema—lahat ng tao may kanya-kanyang opinyon.”

Bella stepped back. “So this... war... it’s not just between them anymore, is it?”

Dominic looked her straight in the eye.

“They’ll start dragging us next.”

Santiago Mansion – Manila, Carlos Santiago faced the press, sharp in a black suit. He looked calm, but his eyes were ice.

“We have every reason to believe that the Valencia Corporation used illegal methods to gain confidential information regarding the Southbay bidding. As of today, Santiago Estates is officially severing all potential joint projects with their company.”

Reporters leaned in, voices overlapping.

“Sir! May koneksyon po ba ito sa personal na relasyon ng anak ninyo kay Dominic Valencia?”

Carlos paused.

“That has no bearing on this. My daughter is not part of this conflict. But moving forward, I will not allow her to be associated with their family in any way.”

Valencia Tower – Executive Office.

“Carlos is playing victim,” Lorenzo Valencia growled, slamming a newspaper on his glass table.

Marco leaned on the edge of the desk, bored expression on his face.

“Let him. The more noise he makes, the more investors will pull back from him. And we’ll scoop them up one by one.”

“He brought his daughter into this mess,” Lorenzo added. “He should’ve known better.”

Marco raised a brow. “And what about Dominic?”

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. “He needs to make a choice.”

Batangas – Late Evening, Bella stared at the TV screen in the villa’s living room. Reruns of the press conference looped nonstop.

Her mother’s voice finally cut through the silence—tumatawag sa phone niya.

“Mama?”

“Umuwi ka na.”

“Mama—”

“Your dad... your dad is furious, Bella. He’s blaming everything on you.”

Napatigil siya. “What? That’s not fair—”

“Life’s not fair,” her mom said, her voice weak. “Get back home. Now.”

Santiago Mansion – Evening. Elena paced the marble floors of her home office, phone glued to her ear, heels clicking in sharp, angry beats. Sa kabila ng lakas ng ulan sa labas, mas malakas ang ingay ng mga tawag, mga ulat mula sa legal, PR, at board members.

“Nakarating na ba sa shareholders ang statement ni Carlos? Make sure na may counter-response tayo by morning. Hindi tayo puwedeng magmukhang tahimik habang sinisira nila ang pangalan ng kumpanya.”

“Ma’am,” sabi ni Rosa mula sa gilid, “yung supplier natin sa Milan—nagpull out na rin po.”

“WHAT?” Elena turned sharply. Her voice cracked, full of disbelief. “Hindi sila puwedeng—”

“They said the scandal is too big. They don’t want to be involved.”

Elena’s chest rose and fell, fast. She held onto the edge of the desk, trying to breathe through the chaos.

“Get the legal team. Set a call in ten minutes.”

“But ma’am, hindi pa po kayo kumakain simula kaninang umaga. And... Carlos isn’t answering his phone.”

Elena closed her eyes. Napahawak siya sa sentido. God, not now. Not when everything’s falling apart.

Then another phone started ringing.

A second line.

And a third.

Nagkakapalit-palit na ang notifications. Email pings. Missed calls. Breaking news alerts.

She looked at the tablet screen on her desk—headlines flashing:

“SANTIAGO VS VALENCIA: Billionaire Feud Turns Ugly”

“Who Is Bella Santiago? The Girl Between Two Empires”

“Southbay Collapses: What It Means for the Real Estate Titans”

Elena’s vision blurred for a moment.

And then—flashback of Bella laughing beside Dominic in a blurry photo from weeks ago—nag-pop up ang isang speculative article.

“Lovers in the Crossfire? Bella Santiago and Dominic Valencia’s Relationship Under Fire”

Napasinghap siya. Napaatras.

The room started to spin. Parang unti-unting lumulubog ang sahig. Her breath turned shallow, chest tightening like a vice.

“M-Ma’am?” Rosa rushed to her side.

Elena took one unsteady step. “I just need... to sit... I—”

CRASH!

The glass of water beside her fell and shattered just as she did.

“Elena!”

Private Hospital – ICU, Midnight.

Machines beeped steadily. Nurses moved quietly around the room.

Bella stood frozen outside the glass wall, still wearing the same gray hoodie from Batangas. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, as if trying to hold herself together. Dali dali syang umalis sa Beach nang mabalitaan nya ang nangyari sa mama nya.

Carlos stood on the other side of the hallway, arms crossed, jaw clenched. His phone was buzzing, but he didn’t answer.

Bella’s voice was barely audible.

“How is she?”

“Stable,” sagot ng doctor. “But she fainted due to extreme stress. Her blood pressure spiked. She hasn’t been eating or sleeping properly.”

Bella covered her mouth, trying to stop the sob that rose from her throat.

Kasalanan ko ba ‘to?

Did I cause this?

“Pwede ko ba siyang makita?” she asked shakily.

Carlos turned to her slowly, eyes cold as stone. “Ngayon mo naiisip ‘yan?”

Bella’s tears welled up again. “Dad, please... I didn’t mean for any of this to happen—”

“Hindi ka bata, Isabella,” he snapped. “You knew what you were doing when you ran off with him. You chose Dominic over your own family. Ngayon, you expect us to welcome you back habang ang ina mo halos mamatay sa stress?”

“I came back the moment I found out! I didn’t even pack—I just left!” she cried, voice cracking.

Carlos stepped closer, his voice dropping.

“Kung gusto mong gumaling ang ina mo... you’ll walk away from the Valencias. For good.”

The room was quiet.

Bella sat beside her mother, fingers intertwined with Elena’s pale hand. Her eyes were swollen from crying.

“Mom,” she whispered, “please wake up. I need you.”

Tears slid down her cheeks.

“I never meant for this to happen. I just... I loved him. I thought maybe... maybe love could be enough to stop the war. But I was wrong.”

A beep sounded from the monitor—her mother stirred slightly.

Bella gasped, leaning forward.

“Elena?” Carlos entered the room quickly.

Elena slowly opened her eyes, weak but conscious.

Bella smiled through tears. “Mama... I’m here.”

Elena stared at her for a long second, then whispered, “Uuwi ka na, ‘di ba?”

Bella’s smile faded.

She nodded.

And this time, she didn't fight it.

After nilang mag-sap ng mama nya, umuwi si Bella sa Batangas. Nagpapaalam ang araw sa ulap habang nananatiling tahimik ang buong villa. Sa terrace, nakaupo si Bella, suot pa rin ang hoodie niya mula kagabi. Her fingers curled tightly around a mug of cold coffee, untouched.

Hindi siya makatingin kay Dominic.

“Babe,” he said gently, kneeling in front of her. “You haven’t said anything since the call.”

Her lips trembled. “Si Mama... she woke up. She asked if I was going home.”

“That’s good,” he whispered, trying to touch her hand, pero umatras siya ng bahagya.

“Hindi ‘yun good, Dom. Alam mo kung anong ibig sabihin nun.”

“Bella—”

“She didn’t say ‘I miss you.’ She didn’t ask how I was. She just said... ‘Uuwi ka na, ‘di ba?’ Parang... parang requirement. Para lang gumaling siya.”

Dominic sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “So what are you saying?”

Bella looked at him, eyes red and swollen. “I have to go back. Tonight.”

“No.” Tumayo siya bigla. “You don’t owe them that. They’re using guilt para makontrol ka. Alam natin ‘yan.”

“Dom... she collapsed.” Her voice cracked. “Because of the press, the headlines... because of us.”

“So what? We’re the villains now?” he snapped. “Let them rot in their own war. We didn’t start it.”

“I know,” she whispered. “But I can’t just sit here knowing na baka bumigay ulit si Mama habang ako—nagmamahal sa anak ng kaaway.”

Silence.

Dominic’s jaw clenched.

“So, you’re leaving.”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes. “Kung ikaw ‘yung may nanay na nakaratay sa ospital, ‘di mo ba gagawin ang lahat para lang matahimik siya?”

“Even if that means leaving me?” he asked, voice low, pained.

“I’m not leaving you.” She held his hand. “But I need time. I need to go home and try to fix what I can.”

Dominic turned away, breathing heavily.

“Kung umalis ka ngayon, Bella... things might never be the same.”

She flinched. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s reality. You know how my father works. He’s already furious. And your dad? He’ll make sure you never come near me again.”

Bella looked up at him, broken.

“Then... tell me not to go.”

Dominic met her gaze.

But he didn’t say anything.

And that silence—

—that was her answer.

Manila – Santiago Mansion, Late Evening. The black SUV pulled up to the gate, and the guards opened it without hesitation.

Bella stepped out, tahimik, suot ang oversized hoodie at faded jeans. No make-up. No glam. Just a girl who left the man she loved for a family at war.

Pagbukas ng pinto, bumungad si Carlos sa grand staircase, arms crossed.

“She’s home,” he said to no one in particular.

Walang yakap. Walang tanong.

Just cold acknowledgement.

Bella didn’t speak.

Hindi na siya umasa.

Her mother was resting upstairs. Bianca didn’t come down. Elena's nurse greeted her softly and led her straight to her room, where Bella left her overnight bag at the door and sat beside her mother, holding her hand once again.

She stared out the window.

Batangas seemed like a dream.

Dominic felt like a memory.

And she... felt like a ghost inside her own home.

Samantala sa Valencia Tower – Dominic’s Penthouse, Same Night.

Dominic stood by the window, glass of whiskey in hand, eyes fixed on the city lights.

Jules entered, holding his phone.

“Your dad made a statement.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should. He wants you to cut ties with the Santiagos. Publicly. Officially. Including Bella.”

Dominic didn’t move.

“She went back to them,” Jules added carefully.

“I know.”

“You gonna let her go just like that?”

Dominic’s hand gripped the glass tighter.

“She asked me to stop her,” he said, voice flat. “And I didn’t.”

Valencia Tower – Executive Floor, Boardroom.

Maaga pa pero punong-puno na ng tension ang boardroom ng Valencia Corporation. Cold gray walls, sleek black chairs, at ang presensya ni Lorenzo Valencia—dominant, commanding, deadly quiet.

Dominic sat at the far end of the table, arms crossed, face unreadable.

“Well?” Lorenzo finally said, placing his Montblanc pen down. “She’s back with her family.”

“Yeah,” Dominic replied flatly.

“So that’s it then. You’ll make a statement this week. Cut her off.”

Hindi agad sumagot si Dominic. Tumitig siya sa glass wall overlooking the city, ang panga’y nakadiin, ang kamaong naka-clench sa ilalim ng mesa.

“You’re serious?” he said after a moment. “You want me to pretend she doesn’t exist?”

“This is not about pretending, hijo. This is strategy.” Lorenzo’s voice sharpened. “Carlos humiliated us in public. Your girlfriend just walked back into the enemy’s mansion. And we have clients watching our every move.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Dominic said coldly, “She’s... more than that.”

Lorenzo slammed his hand on the table, making the executives flinch. “Then all the more reason to do it cleanly. No drama. No weakness. Just end it.”

“I’m not some puppet you can program, Dad.”

“You think this is about love?” Lorenzo stood up, towering over him. “This is war, Dominic. Wars don’t care who you’re sleeping with.”

Dominic pushed his chair back slowly, standing as well. Mata sa mata.

“You’ve always hated her.”

“No,” Lorenzo said with a dark chuckle. “I just hate what she makes you—soft. Distracted. Vulnerable. Hindi kita pinalaki para maging ganyan.”

“She makes me human,” Dominic muttered. “Which is more than I can say for you.”

Lorenzo’s jaw tightened. “Make the call. Release a statement. Or I will do it for you.”

Dominic didn't respond. He walked out of the room without another word.

[Scene: Dominic’s Car – Driving Alone, Nighttime]

City lights blurred past the tinted windows as Dominic gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white.

Bella’s face kept flashing in his mind—how she looked when she turned to him and asked: “Then tell me not to go.”

And how he said nothing.

He turned his phone over in his hand. Her name was still on the screen. Hindi pa niya sine-save ulit, pero hindi rin niya mabura.

Isa pang ping ng notification:

Marco: Saw your girl today. She looks lonely. You sure you’re done with her?

Dominic threw the phone into the passenger seat.

“Putang ina,” he muttered, stepping on the gas.

Kinagabihan, Valencia Mansion – Lorenzo’s Study. Marco (younger brother of Dominic) entered with a slow smirk. “You think he’ll actually do it?”

“He’ll have no choice,” Lorenzo answered, sipping his bourbon. “Dominic’s loyal, but he hates being told what to do.”

“So?” Marco raised an eyebrow.

“We force him to choose,” Lorenzo said darkly. “And we make sure the girl suffers first.”

Santiago Mansion – Garden Patio, Late Afternoon. Mainit pero presko ang simoy ng hangin sa likod ng mansion. Bella sat under a white umbrella, staring blankly at her untouched iced tea. She had barely spoken to anyone since she got back. Her phone was silent. Too silent.

"Mind if I join you?"

Napalingon siya. Marco Valencia—Dominic’s younger brother. Crisp white polo, perfectly tousled hair, signature lazy smirk on his lips.

Bella tensed. “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited,” he replied, sliding into the seat across from her like he owned it. “Your mom’s trying to be civil. Funny, isn’t it? While the dads are busy declaring war, the moms are trying to keep the peace with tea and finger sandwiches.”

She gave him a look. “This isn’t funny.”

“Didn’t say it was. Just ironic.” Tumagilid ang ulo ni Marco, pinanood siya. “You look... tired. Broken hearts will do that.”

Her eyes flashed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think I do.” He leaned closer across the table. “My brother's good at one thing—pulling people in, then pushing them away the moment it gets too real.”

Bella swallowed hard but said nothing.

“I warned him, you know.” Marco’s voice dropped lower, intimate. “Told him not to get attached. Told him he'd ruin you.”

Her hands tightened around her glass. “Why are you really here, Marco?”

He smiled, that slow, deliberate kind that never reached his eyes.

“Maybe I’m just curious about the girl who made Dominic lose control. Or maybe,” he said, voice silky, “I want to see for myself if you’re worth all this drama.”

He stood, walked around the table, then leaned against the back of her chair. Too close. Too intentional.

“You should stop crying over him,” he whispered. “He’s not crying over you.”

Bella stood abruptly. “You don’t know anything.”

But Marco didn’t back off. He simply smirked and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You’ll see, Bella. I’m not like him. I don’t play hard to get. I just play to win.”

Then he walked off like he’d won something.

Bella stood frozen, heart pounding—not from attraction, but from confusion and dread.

[Scene: A Black Car Parked Down the Road]

From the tinted windows, Dominic watched.

He’d been parked there for fifteen minutes. Not sure why. Not sure what he was even hoping for.

And then he saw Marco.

Leaning too close. Smiling that smug, poisonous smile. Touching her.

His Bella.

Dominic’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white.

His jaw clenched. His blood boiled.

He didn’t know if it was jealousy.

Or rage.

But he knew one thing:

Marco was making his move.

And Dominic had to decide—fast—if he was going to let him.